Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium roof will be closed indefinitely

We have continued to monitor the progress of Atlanta’s new crown jewel retractable roof “Mercedes Benz Stadium,” because it has relevance for Florida teams playing there, soon. And while it has some over the top amazing amenities, the whole retractable roof part has been a headache for all involved.

So, much so, that those in charge have decided they will leave the roof closed, indefinitely, and maybe throughout the upcoming NFL season and eventually, the College Football Playoff Championship Game in January. More pressing is, it’s hosting a Jaguars-Falcons preseason game next month and the humongous FSU-Alabama college opener on September 2nd.

Obviously, stadium officials, the Falcons, the NFL, etc. would like to have the option to leave the roof open for games, depending on North Georgia heat in August and September and the possibility of rain and so on. But, for now, it will be left closed and essentially be an indoor “dome” for the games.

And here’s the other reality: once you get to around November (the Bucs play at the Falcons November 26th), it is much colder in Atlanta, and even more so for December and January.

So, it doesn’t make sense that the roof would be open then for Falcons games no matter when they are played on a Sunday afternoon or evening. And, it was likely not going to be open for the CFP championship game in very chilly January in the first place.

So, even if the parties involved get the retractable roof part figured out and operating correctly and efficiently, it’s entirely possible that Mercedes Benz Stadium, while fantastic, will be domed for the whole football season.

New Jersey authorities charge Janoris Jenkins brother in homicide at his home

It only took a little over 24 hours for authorities in Bergen County, New Jersey to make an arrest in the homicide at the home of New York Giants defensive back Janoris Jenkins. And as it turns out, Jenkins older brother William is being charged aggravated manslaughter in the death of 25-year-old Roosevelt Rene.

Rene, who had been staying at the Jenkins home as a guest and friend of the family, was found by a worker in the basement of the home on Tuesday morning.

Whether or not Quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski are happy or unhappy with the New England Patriots and coach Bill Belichick is also a big deal.

And yes, whether or not players, like Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones, can get new contracts or will be holding out come training camp next month is again, a big deal.

However, we haven’t seen nearly as much coverage on something that is also very significant once the game start being played. There are four former NFL referees from a year ago that have all resigned/retired and that’s a big number all at once.

The fourth referee is Ed Hochuli, who is retiring and yet to have a TV role, if there is one for him.

The bigger point is that everyone of these head referees are long time veterans and represent approximately 25-30% of the referees who work weekends in the NFL.

And in the cases of Steratore and McAulay, they are younger than Triplette and Hochuli, and could have conceivably been referees another 10 years or so, had they wanted.

So, why didn’t they want to continue?

Former supervisor of the NFL officials and now Fox TV rules analyst, Mike Pereira, has repeatedly expressed that due to the micromanaging that HD replay reviews have caused, that many of the “rank and file” are disgruntled and discouraged.

And, if several on field officials can follow his lead and end up with a high paying network TV gig, then who can begrudge them?

Still, we at F.F.I. can’t hope but wonder if this kind of turnover with head referees will have some effect with the new ones taking over botching calls or situations come this fall.

According to jail records, this is the ninth different time that McCants has been arrested on some charge in the Tampa Bay area in the last eight years.

McCants, now 50 years old, never lived up to the billing of being taken in the top five, as he played only three seasons in Tampa Bay,. He battled weight and knee problems and only registered 12 sacks in three seasons. He also played for the Oilers and the Cardinals in subsequent seasons, but was out of the NFL by 1995.

Notice: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. By closing this banner, scrolling this page, clicking a link or continuing to browse otherwise, you agree to the use of cookies. If you want to know more or withdraw your consent to all or some of the cookies, please refer to the cookie policy.OkRead more